Drain valve



M. S. LIPMAN DRAIN VALVE Oct. 20, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 11, 1947 W H mm Ma. M@ Y B ATTORNEY? M. S. LIPMAN DRAIN VALVE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 20, 1953 Filed March 11-, 1947 4/ n'|ll l 7/45 IIIIII l N V EN TOR.

Maurice =51 4/} /770/7.

A TTORNEI.

Patented Oct. 20, 1953 v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

' v I I Y 2,655,932'

DRAIN VALVE Maurice S-. Lipman; Hempstead, N-. Y., assignor' to Republic Aviation Corporation, near Farm.-

ingdale, N- Y.,. a corporation. of Delaware Application March 11, 1947, Serial No'. 733,791

9 Claims.

This invention relates generally to valves and particularly to drain-valves for 'use-on aircraft.

The instant invention proposes a valve which can be employed to drain the interior of anaaircraft component, or to drain any: container or tank housed therein, without creating any irregularity in, or projection on the skin of the. associated component.

By the elimination of access openingsand. doors in conjunction with the drain valve, and by providing for the operation of the valveentirely from theexterior of theaircraft', or of any component thereof, the present invention accomplishes a saving in weight and a reduction inv cost, as well as simplifies the draining of aircraft components and /or tankstherein contained.

Among its other objects this invention contemplates-a valve of this type, which can be re"- motely openedor closed thereby'doi'ng: away with the necessity of climbing over or to the aircraft components to manipulate access doors or to operate the valves.

With the above and other objects in view as will be apparent, this invention consists in the construction, combination and-arrangement of parts all as hereinafter more fully described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 isa sectional view through an aircraft component, such asa wing, and a tank contained therein, illustrating in elevation a drain valve constructed and operatively arranged conjunction with the tank as taught by this invention Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view through an aircraft component showing a modified means for mountingythevalve;

Fig. 3-i's anelevation: of the outer extremity of the present valve and of a fragment of: the surrounding skin;

Fig. 4 is an elevation of the inner extremity of the: valve, showing the relative positions of certainaof its elements when the valve is lockedin its open or draining position;

Fig. 5- is an enlarged central vertical section through the valve and cooperating fitting and structureto illustrate the relative positions of its elements when the valve is closed; I Fig. 6 is-acentral longitudinal 01' vertical section through the valve to illustratethe relative positions of its elements: when locked in open or draining conditions; and

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary section through the skin of an aircraftto disclose a modification of the means by which the present drainvalve, shown in 2 elevation, may be mounted: in and supported thereby.

It is recognized, and in, fact required, that means be provided to drain the interior offhollow aircraft components and/or to" drain any fluid containersor tanks incorporated in the aircraft structure.

A variety of means and valves have: heretofore been usedfor'this'purpose and most of these have required? relatively large access openings in the skin of theaircraft. Hence a door or closureis essential for each access opening, in order to maintain a substantially clean, smooth andzuninterrupted skin, and each door and opening must be equipped with the customary fittings for reinforcing the skin adjacent and. defining the opening. andfor securely; but removably, mounting' the" door therein. The drain valve used in this type of installation is; contained entirely within the? limits of the space definedby the skin so that it. is inaccessible and can be. operated manually only by' reaching. through the access opening; A rotary valve is usually a part. of this type of installationand is provided with a handle for itsmanipulation. To prevent any accidental opening'of the rotary valve'itisiwired and sealed in itsclosed position thereby'making itnecessa-ry to remove the" wireand seal to open the. valve and the subsequentrewiring andrescaling thereof, every time the valve is used,

To drain the tanksof an aircraft having. valve installations of this type also requires collateral equipment in the form of ladders, scaffolds, etc. to theendthat' the accessdoorsand'valvesmay be reached, andmanipulated, as'well as toolsrfor'removing and replacing the access doors and for severing and replacing the wires and seals. It'is manifest, therefore, that these prior valve assemblies: are not only costly and. complicated to instal but are inconvenient andexpensive to use after installation.

To overcome the many obvious disadvantage of and objections to these former valve assemblies', the instant invention proposes anovel installation of a specially constructed valvewherein the outer extremity of the valve is situated in and fully occupies a relatively small opening. in the skin of the aircraft and terminates flush with the outer. surface of said skin. Easily accessible from the ground, the outer extremity of the valve is adapted to receive a tool bywhich it may be opened, means being provided to lock it in. that position. When the draining is completed the same tool is used to'unlock the. valve, whereupon it automatically resumes its closed position.

The details of construction of the valve per se are fully illustrated in Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6 and the installation thereof is disclosed in Figs. 1, 2, 5 and 7.

As shown in Figs. 5 and 6 the instant drain valve is carried and supported by an exteriorly threaded base I0, the exterior shape and threads of which may conform to any convenient standard. This base II] has a concentric or central socket II in its outer end which extends partly through the base to create an end wall I2 at the inner end of the base. concentrically with respect to the longitudinal axis of the base I and its socket II, the wall I2 is pierced by a passage I3 which in eifect comprises a reduced and cylindrical extension of said socket. It will be observed (Fig. 3) that the socket II is hexagonal for the reception of and coaction with any suitable tool for rotating the base ID to thread it into its mounting or support associated with the skin of the aircraft component.

A cylindrical valve casing or barrel I4 is rigidly secured to the inner end wall I2 of the base I0 and is peripherally concentric 'to said wall as well as concentric to the passage I3 through it. The chamber I5, defined by the barrel I4, is

closed at its lower end by the inner end wall I2,

of the base II) which constitutes the bottom of thebarrel or casing I4. The opposite end of the barrel I4 is closed by a plug I6 rigidly held and secured within the extremity of the barrel by the pins II piercing both the casing I4 and,

the fixed plug I6. Any other adaptable means can be employed for rigidly and permanently securing the plug I6 in the inner extremity of the housing or barrel I4 with its outer face flush with the outer extremity of the barrel. This plug I6 is centrally traversed by a passage'IB aligned axially with the passage I3 of the wall I2 and concentric to the axis of the barrel or casing I4 and to the axis of the base I 0. The lower end of the casing or barrel I4 adjoining the end wall I2 of the base I0 is pierced by a series of apertures or openings I9 by which access is established between the exterior and the interior of the casing or barrel I4. The foregoing elements to wit: the base I0 and the casing or barrel I4 together with the plug I6, arranged as aforesaid, comprise the housing of the valve and when this valve, as a unit, is associated with an aircraft component it is mounted and supported by the base I0 as will be described.

A valve stem is mounted for reciprocation in the passages I3 and I8 respectively of the end wall I2 of the base Ill and of the plug Hi. This stem comprises a hollow, cylindrical lower section 20 mounted for reciprocation in the passage I3 of the end wall I2 and a co-extensive upper section 2! which is mounted for simultaneous reciprocation in the passage or opening I8 in the plug I6. These sections 20 and 2| of the stem are preferrably integral one with the other and are defined and separated by an outstanding flange 22, the periphery or circumference of which fits snugly against the inner face of the housing or barrel I4 for free reciprocation within the chamber I thereof. The lower hollow section 20 of the stem adjacent the flange 22 is pierced by a series of openings 23 which, when the valve stem is at the upper extremity of its path of movement, are positioned above the end wall I2 of the base I 0 to establish communication between the interior of the section 20 and the lower end of the chamber I5 of the housing or barrel I4 in substantially the plane of the openings I9 in the lower end of the barrel or casing I 4. Thus when the valve stem is at the upper end of its path of the movement, as illustrated in Fig. 6, communication is established between the exterior of the housing or barrel I4 and the interior of the lower section 20 of the valve stem through the openings I9 in the barrel I4 and the openings 23 in the section 20 of the stem. Reversely, when the valve stem is at the lower end of its path of movement, this communication is broken because the openings 23 in the upper extremity of the lower section 20 of the stem are positioned below the outer surface of the end wall I2 of the base III and within the passage I3 of said end wall, as illustrated in Fig. 5. As will be described the valve is sealed to prevent leakage when its elements assume this last position.

To seal the valve in its closed position (Fig. 5) and to prevent any fluid from passing from the exterior of the barrel or casing I 4 into the interior of the lower stem section 20, a compressible and flexible seal .24, in the form of an O ring of elastic material such as rubber, embraces the lower section 20 of the valve stem adjacent the flange 22 and reciprocates with the valve stem while maintaining this position. Therefore, when the valve stem is in its lower position, as shown in Fig. 5, the O-ring or packing gland 24 bears against the bottom of the casing or barrel I4 and is distorted into sealing contact by the pressure of the flange 22. The position of the lower section 20 of the valve stem shown in Fig. 5 with the openings 23 thereof within the passage l3 of the end wall I2 together with the action of the packing gland orO-ring seal 24 effectively prevents the passage'fpf any fluid from the exterior of the casing I4 to the interior of the lower section 20 of the stem. As the valve stem moves upwardly from the position shown in Fig. 5 to that shown in Fig. 6 the O-ring or gland 24 moves with it and away from its contact with the outer faces of the end wall I2 of the base I0.

The normal position of the elements of, the valve is illustrated in Fig. 5 and this position is maintained by a helical, expansion spring 25 interposed between the inner face of the plug l6 and that face of the flange 22 opposed to the packing gland or seal 24 to surround the upper section 2I of the valve stem. This spring normally tends to seat the O-ring or seal 22 upon the adjoining or outer face of the end wall I2 of the base ID and to position the openings 23 in the lower hollow section 20 of the valve stem within the passage I3 of said end wall, all as shown in Fig. 5. In this condition, the valve is closed and sealed.

To open the valve, the valve stem must be elevated against the action of the spring 25, to move the stem and its associated elements to the positions shown in Fig. 6. To that end, the lower extremity of the section 20 of the stem is provided with the diametrically opposed slots 26- which receive the transverse pin 21 carried by a special tool 28. The insertion of the tool 28 in the hollow extremity of the lower section 20 of the valve stem and the seating of the projecting ends of its pin 27 in the opposed slots 26 of the valve stem not only permits the valve stem to be ele-- vated by a lifting force on the tool 28 but also enables the valve stem to be rotated as a unit by the rotation of th tool 28, for purposes which will be hereafter apparent.

when the valve is elevated so that its. parts assume the draining or open: position shownin Fig. 6, it is desirable to lock and maintain this position until the draining is. complete. To that end the outer face of the plug 1 is grooved, as at 29, upon one: or itsdiameters and upon oppositesides of the passage It through said plug. The outer end portion of'thev upper section 21 of'the valve stem is pierced by a transverse pin 31 projecting at: its ends beyond the upper section 2-1. The elevation of? the valve stem against the action of the spring 25; asshown in Fig; 6 and its rotation through 90': degrees by the. tool 28 causes the proiecting portions of the pin 31 to'overlie the outerface of. theplug I 6 between the grooves 21! therein thereby holding and: locking the valve stem in its elevated position. The reverse, or continued, rotation of the tool 2-8 through 90 degrees brings the projecting ends of the pin 3 1' into alignment with the slots2$ in the outer face of the plug l6, whereupon th removal of the tool 28, orthe removal ofthe lifting force thereon, permits the spring 25 to seat the projecting ends of the pin 3| in the grooves or slots 29 of the plug I5 and withdraw the outer end portion 39- of the valve stem into the casing or barrel l4 until its extremity is flush with the outer face of the plug F6; This action of the spring 25 returns the valve elements-to their normal sealing or closed position shown in Fig. 5.

The tool 28 may be of any lengthto reach the installed valve from the ground and comprises a hollow" cylinder having a diameter permitting its insertion in and its removal from the outer extremity of the hollow; lower section 20 of the valve stem. Thuswhen the tool is inserted in the section 20 of the valvestem and the valve stem is elevated or raised along its axis by a liftingforce on th tool, as shown in Fig. 6', fluid from the exterior of the housing or barrel l4 may pass freely through the openings 19' inthe housing or barrel and the substantially aligned openings- 23- at the upper end of the lower section of the valve stem to the interior of the latter whence itcan drain-into and through the hollow tool 28. V

This prevents any slapping, spilling or wasting of the fluid and permits its deliveryto a container associated with the outer extremity of the tool 28'. The removal of the tool- 28 after the valve stem has been locked in its elevated position leaves this container, in alignment with the draining stream of fluid from the lower section 20-01 the stem.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the valve maybe operated in either direction by the tool" 28 from the-ground or any remotepoint, the distancewhereof from thevalve being determinedby thelength of the tubular tool 28.

The valve heretofore described may be associated with an aircraft structure component in a-number of ways, all of which installations are characterized by accessibility from the ground and the maintenance of the outer or exposed end of the valve assembly'flush with the skin of the component. In. Figs. 1 and 5-, where the aircraft component comprises a wing section, the skin 32 thereof defines a cavity in which a tank 33 is housed: or: contained. This tank 33- is of any standardconstruction. and may be either metallic or fabric. An opening 34 isprovided in the skin 32 of the under surface of the wing section at the point determined for draining and is associated: with a chambered fitting 35- resting upon andlsecured; tov the'inner face" of the'skin 32- at and. surrounding: the. opening 34; This fitting braces. the skin 32. at and: adjacent the: opening 34" and provided with an. internally threaded passage 36 for the reception and securmg'of the base I!) of'the valve. When the base H! iscompletely threaded into the passagev36 of the (fitting, the outer extremity of the base I!) is situ ated flush with the outer surface of the skin 32 and the barrel or casing 14 of the valve is within the: chamber 31 of the fitting; The positioning' the barrel or casing l4 within the chamber 3! of the fitting brings the openings 19' thereof above the bottom of the chamber 31 So that fluid from within the. tank 33, entering the chamber 31, can freely pass through the" openings [8 the interior of the casing or barrel M to be drained therefrom through the-lower section 21] of the valve stem when the openings 23 of the latter are located above the end wall l2 of the base in substantial alignmentwith the openings I9; fitting 35 may be secured to the skin 3'2 by welding; rivets, screws or any other adaptable fastening means and itis to be attached to thetank structure 33. For this purpose an outstanding flange 38 is provided atthe upp'enor inner end of the fitting tobe positioned under the wall of the tank 33 adjacent to and defining an opening therein in alignment with and above the-opening 34 in the skin. Between the flange 38 and the Wall of the tank 33is'a sealing gasket 39 and above the wall of the tank 33 at that point is a similar gasket 40 these gaskets '39 an-d' I!) being aligned one with the other; A- clamping ring M- is disposed over the-upper gasketl-ll and the whole assembly is secured together bya bolt 42 passing through theflange 38', the gaskets 3'9 and 40 and the clamping ring 41. The tightening of the bolt 42 places-thegaskets=39 and. 40 under compression and prevents any' leakage of the fluid within the tank 33 around the flange 38.

The foregoing assembly is designed for metal or fabric tanks housed within the-component and it is apparent that the-fluid-within the tank' 33 at all times fills the-cavity 31 of the fitting 35'- but is prevented from leaving this cavity becauseof the compression placed onthe O-ring or seal 24 by the flange 22 under the" infiuenceof-the-spring 25 in combination with locating the openings 23 within passage l3 ofbase' Ill below'theouterface of the end wall l2. However, when the valve is elevated by the tool 28, as shownin Fig. 6, the fluid within the cavity or chamber 3-! flows through theopenings i 9 and 23'intothe'interiorof the lower-section 20 of theval've stem and from there is discharged through the body of" the tool 282 Itis to beobserved that thevalveand its components are entirely contained'within the aircraftcomponent and that only a relatively'sma-ll opening" isprovided in the skin 3-2 which is largely occupied in the plane'o-f' theskin 32 by the outer extremity of the base of the valve Hi. Once the valve stem is locked in its elevated position (Figs. 42 and 6) thetool-Zs may beremovecl from its cooperation with the stem until it is desired to close the=val've;

In Figs. 2 and? are shown modifications of the mounting for the present valve which are especially susceptible of usein. conjunction with integral. tanks; i. e. wherein: the skin: oi the aircraft component also comprises: the: wall. of. the tank, but which are also of application and: use in conjunction with other types of tanks.

The mounting in Fig; Z'consistsof a block 43 seated on the inner surfaceof the'skin 32 having a threaded passage 44 extending: through it in alignmentwith an opening in the skin; This block '43 overlaps the skin 32 surrounding the ,valve'o'pening and is there fixedly secured by any suitable means such as rivets, screws, welds, etc. so that it becomes, in eflect, a permanent part of the skin. The base ID of the valve is threaded into the passage 44 until its outer extremity is flush with the outer surface whereupon the barrel r casing [4 projects into the tank with the openings l9 therein free and clear above the inner face of the block. When so positioned the valve operates and is operated identically as above de- -ings l9 therein disposed above the inner face of the plate. When thus mounted on the plate 45 the the lower end of the chamber l of the barrel or casing I4 is in registration with an opening 45 in the plate 45 and the valve stem and seal 24 cooperates with the face of said plate in the same manner as these elements coact with the face of the end wall l2 of the base H3 in the preferred embodiment of the invention. To mount the valve and plate 45 in association with the skin 32, an opening 34 is provided in the latter surrounded by a sealing gasket 46 to be gripped between the edge portion of the plate 45 and the outer face of the skin. A series of screws 41 pierce the plate 45 adjacent its periphery as well as the gasket 46 and skin 32 and at their inner ends are threaded into a ring 48 secured to the inner face of the skin adjoining the opening 34 therein. The valve shown in Fig. 7 operates and is operated the same as that shown in Figs. 1 to 6 inc.

What is claimed is:

1. A valve comprising a hollow casing having a series of openings in its wall adjacent one of its ends, a base associated with that end of the casing having said openings and provided with a socket and communicating passage in axial alignment with said casing, a plug closing the end of the casing opposed to said base, said plug being pierced by a passage in axial alignment with the casing and having opposed grooves in its outer face, a valve stem mounted for reciprocation and rotation in the aligned passages, the lower end of said stem being hollow and situated in the passage of said base and provided with laterally opening apertures at its inner end, an outstand- -ing flange on the stem within the casing adjacent said apertures, a transverse pin at the opposite end of the stem situated exteriorly of said casing to operate over the exposed face of the plug upon rotation of the stem, a spring interposed between .said flange and said plug to seat the ends of said pin in the grooves of the plug when aligned therewith, a seal carried by the stem against one face of the flange to bear against said base when said pin seats in the grooves aforesaid, and means whereby the valve stem may be lifted against the action of said spring and rotated to move said pin into and out of alignment with said grooves.

2. A. valve comprising a hollow valve casing having inlet means and a constriction adjoining each of its ends, a stem mounted for reciprocation insaid constrictions, a transverse flange secured to said stem between said constrictions, an expansion spring encircling said stem and operable between one restrictions and the flange, an outlet for the casing contained within that portion of the stem operable through the other constriction normally closed by the action of the spring,'and

against means whereby the stem may be moved the spring aforesaid to open said outlet.

3. A valve comprising a hollow valve casing having inlet means and a constriction adjoining each of its ends, a stem mounted for reciprocation in said constrictions, a transverse flange secured to said stem between said constrictions, an expansion spring encircling said stem and operable between one constriction and theflange, aseal carried by the stem adjacent the flange in opposition to the spring to be brought into sealing contact with the other constriction by said spring, outlet means contained within that portion of the stem operable through the last said constriction to be normally closed by the action of the spring and sealed as aforesaid, and means for moving the stem against the action of the spring to open said outlet means.

4. In a valve the combination with a base having a central passage extending through it, of a hollow valve casing secured at one end to said base, a closure for the opposite end of said casing having an opening therein concentric to the casing and the passage in the base, a valve stem mounted for reciprocation in the base and closure; a flange fixed to the stem between theclosure and the base having a diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of the casing, a spring encircling the stem between the flange and said closure acting normally to seat the flange adjacent the base, and means for establishing communication between the interior of the casing and the exterior of the base upon the reciprocation of the stem to move the flange out of its normal position, said means being inoperative when the flange is normally positioned adjacent the base.

5. The combination with a base having a central passage extending through it, of a hollow valve casing secured at one end to said base and having inlet openings in the wall thereof, a 010- sure for the opposite end of said casing having an opening therein concentric to the casing and the passage in the base, a valve stem mounted 1 for limited reciprocation in the base and closure, that part of the stem associated with the base having a longitudinal passage therein and lateral openings in communication with its inner end, a flange fixed to the stem between the closure and the base having a diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of the casing, a spring encircling the stem between the flange and said closure acting to normally seat the flange adjacent the base and said lateral openings in the passage of the base, and a locking mechanism for ,retaining the stem and flange in position with the latter elevated from the base and the lateral openings of the stem exposed within the .casing.

6. In a drain valve the combination with a base having a central passage extending through it, of a hollow valve casing secured at one end to said base and having inlet openings in its wall adjacent the base, a closure for the opposite end of said casing having an opening therein concentric to the casing and the passage in the base, a valve stem mounted for reciprocation and partial rotation in the base and closure and embodying an outlet in that portion thereof associated with the base, a flange fixed to the stem between the closure and the base having a diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of the casing, a spring encircling the stem between the flange and said closure acting to normally seat the flange adjacent the base and close said 9 outlet embodied in the stem, and a lock interposed between the stem and the closure operable only after the reciprocation of the stem to move the flange away from the base by bodily rotating the stem.

7. In a drain valve the combination with a base having a central passage extending through it, of a hollow valve casing secured at one end to said base having at least one inlet opening in its wall adjoining the base, a closure for the opposite end of said casing having an opening therein concentric to the casing and the passage in the base and at least two radially aligned grooves in its outer face, a stem mounted for reciprocation and rotation in the base and closure having a longitudinal passage in the end thereof remote from the closure and lateral openings at the inner end of said passage; a flange fixed to the stem between the closure and the base having a diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of the casing, a spring encircling the stem between the flange and said closure acting to normally seat the flange adjacent the base and position the lateral openings of the stem within the passage of the base, a transverse pin secured to the stem outwardly of the closure to be normally seated in the aligned grooves of the latter upon the positioning of the flange adjacent the base by the spring, and means to reciprocate the stem against the action of the spring to move the flange away from the base and expose the lateral openings of the stem and to rotate the stem thus moved to position the pin aforesaid over the portions of the outer face of the closure situated between said grooves.

8. The combination with a hollow aircraft component normally disposed in the air-stream and having a drain opening in its skin, of a support positioned within said component in association with said opening and having its outer face substantially flush with the skin of the component defining said opening and also having an outlet passage therein for communication with the interior of the component, a drain valve carried by the support and situated wholly within the component to control the outlet passage in the support, means for normally maintaining said valve closed to seal said outlet passage of the support, and means, whereby the valve may be manually operated from the exterior of the component to establish communication through the outlet passage between the interior and exterior of said component.

9. The combination with a hollow aircraft component having a drain opening in its skin, of a tubular fitting, closed at one end by a bottom wall having a threaded aperture therein and situated within the component with its aperture in registration with said drain opening, a valve casing threaded into said aperture to project into the fitting disposed within said component and having its outer end substantallly flush with the outer surface of the skin of the component, said valve casing having an outlet passage communicating with the exterior of the component, a valve within the casing, a valve stem secured to said valve and mounted for re ciprocation within the casing the outer end portion of the stem being hollow and having a lateral opening at the inner end thereof, means to normally position the valve to close and seal said outlet passage and position the lateral opening of the hollow stem portion out of communication with the valve casing, and means whereby the valve stem may be reoiprocated from the exterior of the component to move the valve from its normal position to the position where the lateral opening in the stem communicates with the interior of the valve casing.

MAURICE S. LIPMAN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 726,031 Cunningham Apr. 21, 1903 1,463,735 Varrieur July 31, 1923 1,586,418 Frederikso-n May 25, 1926 1,611,666 Nacey Dec. 21, 1926 1,665,934 Schieber Apr. 10, 1928 1,737,123 Page Nov. 26, 1929 1,776,877 Youkese Sept. 30, 1930 1,793,850 Halstead Feb. 24, 1931 1,954,986 Carlson Apr. 17, 1934 2,195,213 Heigis Mar. 26, 1940 2,231,630 Laddon Feb. 11, 1941 2,417,342 Bach Mar. 11, 1947 2,487,073 Schroeder Nov. 8, 1949 

